CRISPING VARIETY GROWERS AND PRODUCERS DISCUSS SOME OF THE CHALLENGES FACING TODAY’S POTATO INDUSTRY IN BBC SERIES
FAIRFIELDS Farm, a potato-growing business in Wormingford, Essex, and producer of the popular Fairfields Farm crisps range, has been featured in a national television programme, looking at the effects on this year’s British potato harvest.
In a recent episode of Countryfile, Fairfields Farm’s third-generation potato growers, Robert and Laura Strathern, spoke about their farm and the current challenges they are facing, including increased production costs and unpredictable weather condition. TV viewers also got a behind-the-scenes look at the farm’s production line.
Since the late 1980s, the weekly documentary series Countryfile has covered stories relating to rural, agricultural and environmental issues.
In this episode, presenter Joe Crowley visited Fairfields Farm during harvest, which grows crisping varieties. About 1,000 acres of land are used to grow potatoes at the farm, producing about 25,000 tonnes a year.
During the episode, Robert said: “You can soon find yourself in a loss-making scenario. Potatoes have become a very high-risk crop.”
He went on to add: “We’ve been able to lift most of the time but we had a very wet spring. March, April and May were quite wet months so that delayed planting for this year and that delayed harvest date as well.
“Now you’re on a race against the clock and the weather to get the crop in before it turns.”
He said the crop this year had been a “mixed bag” and detailed how the farm’s cold stores, where its crops can be kept for up to a year, was also being affected by rising energy costs.
“Electricity is a big part of our costs, so when inflation happened for power, that had a big impact on our business,” he said. “But for making sure we’ve got crop available it’s imperative we’ve got our own crop in our own store, so we’ve got control of it.”
Following the episode’s airing, Robert spoke to a local newspaper in which he said he was delighted to have been invited to feature on the show.
“We’re delighted for our brand to have featured on such a nationally-loved show and showcase the passion that goes into our potatoes and crisps,” he told the Southend Echo
“We hope that many catch up on the episode to see what makes Fairfields Farm so special.”
You can view the episode here .
